Rugby Union: Cardiff rediscover self-belief

Cardiff. .31

Neath. . .20

THE old lines are the best and the one that springs to mind here is all about having to learn to walk before you can run. This being the case, Nigel Walker and Cardiff are learning fast and together they had Neath running around furiously at the Arms Park. It was a breathtaking performance, one light years away from the down-at- heel Cardiff of just a season ago.

Walker could not have arrived at a better moment, the former Olympic high hurdler returning to rugby and Neath among others for the high jump. Cardiff have now won six of their seven Heineken League fixtures, whereas when Neath had finished with them in May they were left one from bottom in the First Division with only five wins out a programme of 18 matches

Times, though, have changed for the better from those dark days which were the worst in Cardiff history. Alec Evans, who helped coach the Wallabies when they waltzed to a Grand Slam in these islands in 1984, has, with the former internationals Terry Holmes and Charlie Faulkner, given the club the coaching lift-off they so badly needed.

Walker fits nicely into all this. Rugby, particularly so far as Australians are concerned, is all about athleticism and perhaps subconsciously Cardiff are trying to keep up with Walker. This is no bad thing, although his best time on the flat of 10.47sec is way beyond the reach of anyone else in the game and has only been bettered by two other Welsh 100-metre runners

Walker, meanwhile, is the first to admit that he has a lot of catching up to do at 29 since returning to his first love. 'But you have to admit I am getting better,' he said on Saturday. 'I put in a tackle, made a pick-up and found touch - three things that I hope didn't go unnoticed.' It was his pace, mind, that Neath found worrying.

Twice in the first half they resorted to the late tackle and a tug on the jersey to break Walker's stride. Then, following a deft kick to the left corner by Mark Ring, the wing came desperately close to winning the race for a touchdown and his fourth league try of the season.

Sadly, after the initial excitement, ball and space never came the way of one of the most exciting Welsh properties in years. To make up for this disappointment, Cardiff meanwhile began to revel in their collective athletic ability and nowhere was it better illustrated than among the forwards.

The back row boys, for example, had a field day against the side last seen lording it up here. But perhaps one try said it all about the new Cardiff. Paul Kawulok won a ball at the front of a line-out on the right and then thundered across field in support of a telling thrust by Mike Rayer to score on the left.

Yes, third in the table behind Llanelli, who just had their way the previous weekend, and Swansea, conquerors of all so far and whom they meet first at the Arms Park early in December, Cardiff's show is all about running and the return of an old friend: self-belief.

Cardiff: Tries Budd 2, Kawulok; Conversions Davies 2; Penalty Davies; Drop goals Davies 2, Ring. Neath: Tries Thorburn, McCarthy, Glyn Llewellyn; Conversion Thorburn; Penalty Thorburn.

Cardiff: M Rayer; S Hill, M Hall (capt), M Ring, N Walker; A Davies, A Moore; M Griffiths, J Humphreys, P Sedgemore, P Kawulok, M Edwards, H Taylor, O Williams, M Budd.

Neath: P Thorburn; J Reynolds, S Bowling, J Bird, S Barclay; M McCarthy, C Bridges; B Williams (T Bumford, 67), A Thomas, J Davies, Glyn Llewellyn, Gareth Llewellyn (capt), M Morris, P Jones, I Boobyer.

Referee: R Yemen (Port Talbot).